The Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, on Friday declared that the era of impunity within the Nigeria Police Force was over, vowing to enforce accountability and reposition the Force for improved service delivery.
Disu made the declaration in Benin City during an official visit to the Edo State Police Command where he held an interactive session with officers and men of the command.
The police boss said he was deeply moved by revelations made by officers during the engagement, noting that the discussions had opened his mind to critical issues affecting personnel and operational efficiency within the Force.
“I am leaving here with what they have told me in confidence. They have been able to open my thoughts,” he stated.
According to him, one of the major concerns raised was the neglect of the traffic warden unit, particularly the lack of recruitment into the corps for several years.
He disclosed that the issue had prompted fresh considerations on restructuring and strengthening the unit.
“For example, an officer of the traffic warden stood up and said that for many years now, there have not been recruitments into the corps of traffic wardens. That got me thinking. The traffic warden unit should be upgraded. So when I get back home, we are going to talk about it,” he said.
Speaking on police brutality and misconduct, the IGP referenced the recent killing of a civilian in Delta State by a police officer, describing the act as pure impunity.
“That is impunity. You arrested somebody who was not struggling with you, you brought him out in daylight and you shot him,” Disu said.
He, however, maintained that the Force acted swiftly by trying and dismissing the officers involved while arrangements were being made to prosecute them in court.
“The police rose up to the occasion immediately, tried them, dismissed them, and they are going to charge them in court. That is the meaning of impunity,” he added.
Disu stressed that the Force was committed to building a “new Nigerian Police” driven by professionalism, accountability and public trust.
“Like I mentioned earlier, the era of impunity is over. We have to have the new Nigerian police force. I know I cannot do it alone, that is why I have come here to talk to them, so that all of us will be on the same page,” he stated.
The IGP further revealed that officers had pledged their commitment to reforms aimed at creating a police institution truly owned and trusted by Nigerians.
“They gave me their word that they will have a new police. A new police that the community, the state, the Nigerian people own as our own police,” he added.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Monday Agbonika, appealed to the IGP for greater logistical and tactical support for the command.
According to him, the command had intensified high-visibility policing, aggressive bush-combing operations, intelligence-driven raids and confidence-building patrols across criminal flashpoints in the state.
He noted that additional support in logistics, tactical operations and personnel development would further strengthen the command’s fight against crime and insecurity.
